Cover mechanism for data storage devices

ABSTRACT

A cover mechanism for protecting a data storage device installed in an electronic device includes a bezel, a cover, an elastic member and a button. The bezel defines an opening for the data storage device passing therethrough. The cover is slidably mounted to an inner surface of the bezel in a vertical direction. The cover includes a body covering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member. The stressed member includes a first guiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardly and coordinating with a tray of the data storage device. The elastic member is connected between the bezel and the cover. The button is mounted to the cover. A trigger portion for triggering a switch of the data storage device protrudes rearward from the button.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patentapplication entitled “DUSTCOVER DEVICE FOR DATA STORAGE DEVICES” with aSer. No. 11/022,499 and filed on Dec. 23, 2004, assigned to the sameassignee with this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cover mechanisms, and particularly to acover mechanism which can protect data storage devices fromcontamination and humidity.

2. Background of the Invention

Data storage devices, such as optical disk drives, are installed in acomputer enclosure for communication and processing data. An opticaldisk drive includes a case and a tray received in the case. The tray canaccommodate an optical disk therein, and read data from the opticaldisk. A front bezel is positioned in front of the optical disk drive. Anopening is defined in the front bezel. The tray can be moved into or outof the case through the opening of the front bezel.

For example, a typical personal computer includes an enclosure forprotection of internal devices, such as hard disk drives, compact diskread-only memory (CD-ROM) drives, motherboard, and the like. To accessthe CD-ROM drive, an opening is defined in the enclosure. However,contamination and humidity often harm the personal computer via theopening.

To address aforementioned problem, an enclosure having a protectivecover as described in China Patent No. 98220678.X is invented. Theenclosure includes a front panel defining an opening, and a cover ispivotably attached to the front panel via pivots for shielding theopening. However, the cover includes a protruding part which alwaysextends out of a front bezel no matter the cover is open or closed sothat the cover is prone to be damaged in transportation or in use due toany accidental impact. This contingency usually leads to a short lifeand an unpleasant appearance of the cover.

What is needed is to provide a cover mechanism protecting data storagedevices from any accidental damage.

SUMMARY

An exemplary cover mechanism for protecting a data storage deviceinstalled in an electronic device includes a bezel, a cover, an elasticmember and a button. The bezel defines an opening for the data storagedevice passing therethrough. The cover is slidably mounted to an innersurface of the bezel in a vertical direction. The cover includes a bodycovering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member. The stressedmember includes a first guiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardlyand coordinating with a tray of the data storage device. The elasticmember is connected between the bezel and the cover. The button ismounted to the cover. A trigger portion for triggering a switch of thedata storage device protrudes rearward from the button.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a cover mechanism in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2,together with a data storage device in a closed state; and

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, showing the data storage device mountedtherein in an open state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cover mechanism of an electronic device inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention isadapted for protecting a functional part like a data storage device 50(see FIGS. 3 and 4) installed in the electronic device from accidentaldamage. In this preferred embodiment, the data storage device 50 is anoptical driver. The cover mechanism includes a bezel 10, a cover 20attached to the bezel 10, a button 40 mounted to the cover 20, and apair of elastic members 60 connected between the bezel 10 and the cover20.

The bezel 10 includes an opening 12 for the data storage device 50passing therethrough, and a pair of L-shaped slide rails 14 formed froman inner surface of the bezel 10 and at opposite sides of the opening12. A pair of first suspension rods 16 protrudes from two ends of a topof the bezel 10. A first hooking hole 18 is defined in each firstsuspension rod 16.

The cover 20 includes a body 22 covering the opening 12 of the bezel 10,a pair of stressed members 28 protruding rearward from two oppositesides of the body 22. A pair of second suspension rods 24 protrudesrearward from the body 22. Each second suspension rod 24 is locatedbetween a corresponding edge of the body and the corresponding stressedmember 28. A second hooking hole 240 is defined in each secondsuspension rod 24. Each stressed member 28 includes a horizontalconnecting part 282 protruding rearward from a bottom of the body 22, afirst guiding surface 286 slanting upwardly and forwardly from a freeend of the connecting part 282, and a second guiding surface 284slanting downwardly and forwardly from a top end of the first guidingsurface 286. An end of the second guiding surface 284 is connected to aninner surface of the body 22. A through hole 21 is defined in the body22. A fixing pole 26 protrudes rearward from the body 22 at an upwardside of the through hole 21.

The button 40 includes a securing portion 42 and a trigger portion 44. Afixing hole 46 is defined in an upper part of the securing portion 42,corresponding to the fixing pole 26 of the cover 20. A pushed member 48(see FIGS. 3 and, 4) protrudes forwardly from a lower part of thesecuring portion 42, corresponding to the through hole 21 of the cover20.

Referring also to FIG. 3, in assembling, two sides of the cover 20 areaccommodated in the corresponding slide rails 14. One end 62 of eachelastic member 60 is engaged in the first hooking hole 18 of thecorresponding first suspension rod 16 of the bezel 10. The other end 64of each elastic member 60 is engaged in the second hooking hole 240 ofthe corresponding second suspension rod 24 of the cover 20. The button40 is mounted to the fixing pole 26 via the fixing hole 46. The pushedmember 48 is received in the through hole 21. When a tray 51 of the datastorage device 50 does not extend out of the bezel 10, the body 22 ofthe cover 20 covers the opening 12 of the bezel 10. A free end of thetrigger portion 44 of the button 40 aligns with a switch 52 of the datastorage device 50.

Referring also to FIG. 4, when the tray 51 of the data storage device 50is needed to extend out of the bezel 10 to load or unload an opticaldisk, the pushed member 48 is pushed. The trigger portion 44 of thebutton 40 triggers the switch 52. The tray 51 extends toward the opening12. The tray 51 moves on the first guiding surface 286 of the stressedmember 28 and compels the cover 20 to slide downwardly along the sliderails 14. The elastic members 60 are elastically stretched. After thetray 51 rises above the stressed member 28, the tray 51 can extend outof the bezel 10. The cover 20 moves upwardly via the elastic members 60and a top of the stressed member 28 props a bottom of the tray 51. Thetray 51 is pushed when the tray 51 is needed to retract. The tray 51moves on the second guiding surface 284 of the stressed member 28 andcompels the cover 20 to slide downwardly. After the tray 51 rises abovethe stressed member 28, the tray 51 can retract to the data storagedevice 50. The cover 20 moves upwardly along the slide rails 14 via theelastic members 60 to cover the opening 12 of the bezel 10.

It is believed that the present embodiment and its advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being preferred orexemplary embodiment of the invention.

1. A cover mechanism for protecting a data storage device installed inan electronic device, the cover mechanism comprising: a bezel definingan opening for the data storage device passing therethrough; a coverslidably mounted to an inner surface of the bezel in an verticaldirection, the cover comprising a body covering the opening of thebezel, and a stressed member, the stressed member comprising a firstguiding surface slanting upwardly and forwardly and coordinating with atray of the data storage device; an elastic member connected between thebezel and the cover; and a button mounted to the cover, a triggerportion for triggering a switch of the data storage device protrudingrearward from the button.
 2. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 1,wherein a through hole is defined in a lower portion of the body of thecover, the button comprises a pushed member received in the throughhole.
 3. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the buttonfurther comprises a securing portion, the button is mounted to the covervia the securing portion, the pushed member protrudes from the securingportion.
 4. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein a fixingpole protrudes rearward from the cover, a fixing hole is defined in anupper part of the securing portion of the button, corresponding to thefixing pole of the cover.
 5. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 3,wherein the trigger portion of the button extends from a bottom end ofthe securing portion.
 6. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 1,wherein a pair of L-shaped slide rails is formed from an inner surfaceof the bezel and at opposite sides of the opening.
 7. The covermechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second guiding portionextends slantingly downwardly and forwardly from a top end of the firstguiding portion and coordinates with the tray of the data storagedevice.
 8. A cover mechanism for protecting a data storage deviceinstalled in an electronic device, the cover mechanism comprising: abezel defining an opening for the data storage device passingtherethrough; a cover elastically slidably mounted to an inner surfaceof the bezel in an vertical direction, the cover comprising a bodycovering the opening of the bezel, and a stressed member, the stressedmember comprising a first guiding surface slanting upwardly andforwardly and coordinating with a tray of the data storage device whenthe tray extending out of the data storage device, and a second guidingsurface slanting downwardly and forwardly and coordinating with the traywhen the tray retracting to the data storage device; and a buttonmounted to the cover, a trigger portion for triggering a switch of thedata storage device protruding rearward therefrom.
 9. The covermechanism claimed in claim 8, further comprises an elastic memberconnected between the bezel and the cover.
 10. The cover mechanism asclaimed in claim 8, wherein a through hole is defined in a lower portionof the body of the cover, the button comprises a pushed member receivedin the through hole.
 11. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 10,wherein the button further comprises a securing portion, the button ismounted to the cover via the securing portion, the pushed memberprotrudes from the securing portion.
 12. The cover mechanism as claimedin claim 11, wherein a fixing pole protrudes rearward from the cover, afixing hole is defined in an upper part of the securing portion of thebutton, corresponding to the fixing pole of the cover.
 13. The covermechanism as claimed in claim 11, wherein the trigger portion of thebutton extends from a bottom end of the securing portion.
 14. The covermechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein a pair of L-shaped slide railsis formed from an inner surface of the bezel and at opposite sides ofthe opening.
 15. The cover mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein thesecond guiding surface extends from a top of the first guiding surface.16. An electronic device comprising: a bezel forming along a side ofsaid electronic device, said bezel defining an opening thereon; afunctional part installable in said electronic device next to saidopening of said bezel, and capable of extending a portion thereof topass through said opening toward an outside of said electronic device; acover attachable to said bezel and movable along said side of saidelectronic device between a first position thereof to cover said openingof said bezel, and a second position thereof to reveal said functionalpart and allow said extending of said portion of said functional partthrough said opening; and a button movably attachable to said cover, andcomprising a trigger portion extending from said cover toward saidfunctional part so as to trigger said extending of said portion of saidfunctional part through said opening.
 17. The electronic device asclaimed in claim 16, wherein said cover comprises at least one stressedmember extending therefrom toward said functional part, and interactionbetween said at least one stressed member and said portion of saidfunctional part is capable of controlling movement of said cover betweensaid first and second positions thereof.
 18. The electronic device asclaimed in claim 17, wherein said at least one stressed member comprisesa first guide surface facing said functional part and a second guidesurface facing said opening, said interaction between said at least onestressed member and said portion of said functional part includes afirst interaction between said first guide surface and said portion ofsaid functional part to move said cover from said first position thereofto said second position thereof, and a second interaction between saidsecond guide surface and said portion of said functional part to allowsaid cover moving back to said first position thereof from said secondposition thereof.
 19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16,wherein a pushed member is formed on said button and exposable to saidoutside of said electronic device so as to allow user-accessibility tosaid button for triggering of said trigger portion of said button.